Kyle
We welcomed Kyle Lon Lovejoy on Monday April 28, 2014. I was 41 w 2 days. The night before, around 5pm I drank castor oil. I don’t recommend it. We had tried all other natural methods of induction and nothing seemed to be working. Nothing seemed to happen so I went to bed as usual. I then woke up at midnight with cramping and needed to go to the bathroom, then went back to sleep.
I woke up around 4am with my first contractions. I was so excited things were finally starting, but I knew I would need my sleep. I started timing them immediately and they were already 5-7 minutes apart, which surprised me. I had no Braxton Hicks and felt nothing up to this point, so I though my first contractions would be an hour, then 30 mins apart, etc. I tried to sleep until 6am.
Around 6am I woke my husband, Austin, and told him we needed to get ready. In between contractions I showered and finished packing my hospital bag. We were at my parent’s house, so they all got up and ate breakfast. I ate red Jell-O and applesauce in between contractions.
I had already found my rhythm. I liked to sit on the edge of the couch and have Austin put lots of pressure on my lower back. I called my Doula, Bianca, around 7am and she said she’d be at my house around 8am. From 6am-10am I continued to labor on the couch. Bianca suggested standing up. I tried it, but preferred sitting down. Contractions were starting to get more intense, about 3 minutes apart, 60 sec long, for an hour (3,1,1) around 10am. Bianca suggested the shower. I had always said I wanted to try the shower. I knew the heat would feel good, but it was more of a hassle to get undressed and get in. Plus Austin couldn’t push as hard on my lower back, which was what really felt the best.
In the shower, I had one contraction that made me cry out. I was worried about the 20 min drive to Keesler Hospital. I didn’t know how contractions would feel in the car or how fast things would go. I had decided, before I was in labor, that once I got to 3,1,1, I would go to the hospital, so it was time to go.
My husband drove and my mom rode in the backseat. I had 3 contractions in the car. It wasn’t as bad as I imagined. My husband was massaging my back and driving! He parked the car, while my mom walked me in. I had 2 contractions on the way in and had to sit on a stool (keeping with my rhythm).
We checked in and they sent me to a room to see if I was in actual labor. I was dilated 8 cm! Way further along than I ever imagined. Yay, go me. This baby would be born in a few hours, before lunch my mom said.
Kyle had other plans… I was stuck at an 8 for about 6 hours. He wouldn’t turn so he could head down the birth canal. I labored for about 3 hours (10am-1pm) and they came in to check me. They said I was at an 8 and Dr. Moore asked me if I wanted my water broke to speed things along. I agreed. Bianca suggested a few positions to help the baby turn, but he just wanted to do his own thing.
I labored for 3 more hours (1pm-4pm) and they checked me again. Still an 8. This time they said my contractions weren’t strong enough and that I would need Pitocin. Before I went into labor, I had decided that if I had to have Pitocin, there would be no way I could make it through those contractions. I would probably have to get an epidural. I was feeling exhausted and defeated. All the way to an 8 on my own, and then get an epidural. I asked everyone in the room (Mom, Bianca, Austin) “How can I get through this?”
They asked if I wanted something to help with the pain before they gave me the Pitocin. I agreed. They gave me Nubain around 4pm. It knocked me out for about an hour. It was a much needed break to give me energy for the next 6 hours. I sat up through the contractions that hour, but couldn’t do much more than that.
When the Nubain wore off I was ready to go. They started the Pitocin around 5pm Contractions were very strong and I was starting to stand up. Oh, I forgot to mention, I screamed through the entire labor once I got to the hospital. It surprised me. I didn’t think I would be a screamer, but it just became part of my routine.
I was now starting to stand up and I could feel Kyle moving down. Finally, things were happening. I labored like this for maybe another 3 hours (4pm-8pm). They checked me and said I was at a 9.5 with a little lip. I began to say that I wanted to push. They told me to wait until I was at a 10, put my body had other plans. I could not control the urge to push. My body was just doing it on its own. I pushed for about 45 minutes at 9.5cm.
They checked me again and I was finally at 10cm around 9pm. I got on my knees and leaned over the back of the bed. I really liked that position and the squat with the squat bar for pushing. Pushing was very hard and exhausting. I remember thinking I could not do this until 2 or 3 in the morning and he’d better be born before then!
I pushed for about 45 min after I was 10 cm. I began to feel the ring of fire. I knew I was close. The doctor wheeled in the instrument tray, nurses and students were in the room. There were so many people. But I didn’t care. I just wanted the baby out. Everyone said they could see the head. I remembered from everything I read, that during the crowning, not to push, just breathe to avoid tearing. The first thing my doctor said was hold your breath and push. Even though I knew I shouldn’t be doing that, I did it anyway. I also remember Bianca telling me to wait for the next contraction, but everyone else was yelling push. I think it took about 3 contractions to get him out. I felt the head, then immediately the shoulders. I delivered in the squat position. Kyle Lon was born at 9:43pm. An 18 hour labor.
I felt immediate relief. I turned to Austin and said “We did it!” It was such a joy to hear little Kyle’s cries. They placed him on my belly right away. I tried to pull him closer to breastfeed but the cord was too short. They waited until it stopped pulsing and Austin cut the cord.
I knew I still needed to deliver the placenta, so I was waiting for more contractions. But Dr. Moore said the cord broke and the placenta wasn’t detaching. He needed to go in manually and remove it. It was so painful. After a natural birth, my body was ready to relax. I couldn’t handle any more pain. He was going to bring me to the OR to finish the procedure. I ended up having to get a spinal for the placenta delivery. Man, doesn’t that suck. It took him about an hour to retrieve the placenta and stitch me up. I had a second degree tear that took about 20 stitches. So, when you feel the ring of fire, don’t hold your breath and push, just breathe!
Around 11:30pm I was finally brought back to my room to be with my new baby. Kyle is such a sweet joy. Kyle is healthy and I recovered quickly. We are enjoying our time as a new family. I couldn’t have done it without my support team. Mom, Austin, and Bianca were amazing; coaching every step of the way and giving me the encouragement I needed. Thank you to all of you.
I woke up around 4am with my first contractions. I was so excited things were finally starting, but I knew I would need my sleep. I started timing them immediately and they were already 5-7 minutes apart, which surprised me. I had no Braxton Hicks and felt nothing up to this point, so I though my first contractions would be an hour, then 30 mins apart, etc. I tried to sleep until 6am.
Around 6am I woke my husband, Austin, and told him we needed to get ready. In between contractions I showered and finished packing my hospital bag. We were at my parent’s house, so they all got up and ate breakfast. I ate red Jell-O and applesauce in between contractions.
I had already found my rhythm. I liked to sit on the edge of the couch and have Austin put lots of pressure on my lower back. I called my Doula, Bianca, around 7am and she said she’d be at my house around 8am. From 6am-10am I continued to labor on the couch. Bianca suggested standing up. I tried it, but preferred sitting down. Contractions were starting to get more intense, about 3 minutes apart, 60 sec long, for an hour (3,1,1) around 10am. Bianca suggested the shower. I had always said I wanted to try the shower. I knew the heat would feel good, but it was more of a hassle to get undressed and get in. Plus Austin couldn’t push as hard on my lower back, which was what really felt the best.
In the shower, I had one contraction that made me cry out. I was worried about the 20 min drive to Keesler Hospital. I didn’t know how contractions would feel in the car or how fast things would go. I had decided, before I was in labor, that once I got to 3,1,1, I would go to the hospital, so it was time to go.
My husband drove and my mom rode in the backseat. I had 3 contractions in the car. It wasn’t as bad as I imagined. My husband was massaging my back and driving! He parked the car, while my mom walked me in. I had 2 contractions on the way in and had to sit on a stool (keeping with my rhythm).
We checked in and they sent me to a room to see if I was in actual labor. I was dilated 8 cm! Way further along than I ever imagined. Yay, go me. This baby would be born in a few hours, before lunch my mom said.
Kyle had other plans… I was stuck at an 8 for about 6 hours. He wouldn’t turn so he could head down the birth canal. I labored for about 3 hours (10am-1pm) and they came in to check me. They said I was at an 8 and Dr. Moore asked me if I wanted my water broke to speed things along. I agreed. Bianca suggested a few positions to help the baby turn, but he just wanted to do his own thing.
I labored for 3 more hours (1pm-4pm) and they checked me again. Still an 8. This time they said my contractions weren’t strong enough and that I would need Pitocin. Before I went into labor, I had decided that if I had to have Pitocin, there would be no way I could make it through those contractions. I would probably have to get an epidural. I was feeling exhausted and defeated. All the way to an 8 on my own, and then get an epidural. I asked everyone in the room (Mom, Bianca, Austin) “How can I get through this?”
They asked if I wanted something to help with the pain before they gave me the Pitocin. I agreed. They gave me Nubain around 4pm. It knocked me out for about an hour. It was a much needed break to give me energy for the next 6 hours. I sat up through the contractions that hour, but couldn’t do much more than that.
When the Nubain wore off I was ready to go. They started the Pitocin around 5pm Contractions were very strong and I was starting to stand up. Oh, I forgot to mention, I screamed through the entire labor once I got to the hospital. It surprised me. I didn’t think I would be a screamer, but it just became part of my routine.
I was now starting to stand up and I could feel Kyle moving down. Finally, things were happening. I labored like this for maybe another 3 hours (4pm-8pm). They checked me and said I was at a 9.5 with a little lip. I began to say that I wanted to push. They told me to wait until I was at a 10, put my body had other plans. I could not control the urge to push. My body was just doing it on its own. I pushed for about 45 minutes at 9.5cm.
They checked me again and I was finally at 10cm around 9pm. I got on my knees and leaned over the back of the bed. I really liked that position and the squat with the squat bar for pushing. Pushing was very hard and exhausting. I remember thinking I could not do this until 2 or 3 in the morning and he’d better be born before then!
I pushed for about 45 min after I was 10 cm. I began to feel the ring of fire. I knew I was close. The doctor wheeled in the instrument tray, nurses and students were in the room. There were so many people. But I didn’t care. I just wanted the baby out. Everyone said they could see the head. I remembered from everything I read, that during the crowning, not to push, just breathe to avoid tearing. The first thing my doctor said was hold your breath and push. Even though I knew I shouldn’t be doing that, I did it anyway. I also remember Bianca telling me to wait for the next contraction, but everyone else was yelling push. I think it took about 3 contractions to get him out. I felt the head, then immediately the shoulders. I delivered in the squat position. Kyle Lon was born at 9:43pm. An 18 hour labor.
I felt immediate relief. I turned to Austin and said “We did it!” It was such a joy to hear little Kyle’s cries. They placed him on my belly right away. I tried to pull him closer to breastfeed but the cord was too short. They waited until it stopped pulsing and Austin cut the cord.
I knew I still needed to deliver the placenta, so I was waiting for more contractions. But Dr. Moore said the cord broke and the placenta wasn’t detaching. He needed to go in manually and remove it. It was so painful. After a natural birth, my body was ready to relax. I couldn’t handle any more pain. He was going to bring me to the OR to finish the procedure. I ended up having to get a spinal for the placenta delivery. Man, doesn’t that suck. It took him about an hour to retrieve the placenta and stitch me up. I had a second degree tear that took about 20 stitches. So, when you feel the ring of fire, don’t hold your breath and push, just breathe!
Around 11:30pm I was finally brought back to my room to be with my new baby. Kyle is such a sweet joy. Kyle is healthy and I recovered quickly. We are enjoying our time as a new family. I couldn’t have done it without my support team. Mom, Austin, and Bianca were amazing; coaching every step of the way and giving me the encouragement I needed. Thank you to all of you.
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